Berserk Volume 8: This Was the Only Way it Could’ve Went

Now, this volume starts out decently with more fighting, but as I have said here, the fights are appetizer and I only prefer dessert only after the food. Basically, I wish Berserk‘s fights didn’t start the volume but it’s more of a preference, as for the fight, it’s tame. I enjoy the fact there’s multiple things happening at once, and Miura always makes the plot apart of the action, even if it plays a minor role so Guts can wickedly swing a sword. And you would notice I said ‘a’ as Guts is given one by a mysterious figure.

The creep from long ago Griffith takes care of, and it’s interesting how Griffith accomplishes this. He shows no hatred for the man, and kills him. It’s fascinating. This could show Griffith has eliminated emotion, meaning any way of being hurt from situations such as with this creep. But it could also highlight a foil. Guts. He does care for him, but he is the exception. And Casca is the broken example. He likes her but tries to hide it like with others to portray a God appearance, but since he opened himself up to her once he feels trapped. With Guts, he can’t help but be open. And finishing this man off seals the deal. After this, we move on to celebration. In one of the more sweeter moments, we Casca, injured, bemoaning not being able to meet Griffith after winning the battle, but seeing him as so precious from afar, like he’s grown in her eyes in mere moments. Guts, hearing this sentimental cry, does what he does best, and gives a hand and picks Casca up to see to him. After this, we learn Zodd was the one who tossed Guts the sword. What a delightful section, from the subtle paneling to the delicate dialogue.

We see the battle cries from the joyful kingdom emerge as Griffith is becoming more of a big deal, and that’s a big problem to pretty much everyone except the King. In a adorable zany chapter, we see our little crew really feel like they made it, now attending a ball. Here, we see Casca and Guts sitting out to ponder much, and accidentally flirt nearly every other panel. By the end, Casca starts to really realize Guts is serious and the way she asks tells how much she’s grown to care for him. Unlike Griffith, he really acknowledges her love with his soul. Before much else happens, we see official respect paid to the Band of the Hawk and we end at Guts and Griffith smiling. How could it all go wrong? The answer is in the details.

Before much else happens, a bombshell drops and Griffith drops right on the floor. We see Casca break and hold onto him, and this seems the end until we cut to those who want Griffith’s head. Sooner than later, they are burning right up, and it’s revealed Griffith is the culprit. It’s been a while since I turned pages so fast. Anyone who said Miura can’t make a page-turner haven’t read Miura. We even see Griffith narrate their death, kinda mockingly and again those words are the ones who actually defeat him. He says the defeated are those who will be deceased, yet as shown later, he found his scapegoat in the form of a certain necklace. What I love about that is that it shows he could be his biggest hypocrite or his words are just folly or cockiness to show he is the victor. But it could also show, the only person who could defeat Griffith was actually Griffith. We additionally later see Guts helping Griffith on this mission, illustrating their bond for what’s coming up.

Now, to cut to the most standout section in Berserk yet, let’s cut to Guts leaving. Judeau and Guts have a pretty incredible talk, essentially covering the ground on why he is leaving and his love for Casca. How they discuss Griffith and Casca’s love for him is nothing noteworthy, but it’s when Guts is asked by Judeau about wanting to hold her that things get interesting. I saw this moment as Judeau opening up about his own feelings and wanting to see Guts. If Guts loves her, Judeau will try his best to respect that. But in some ways, he’s using Guts’ love for her as a way to provide her a way to escape. Judeau knows more than anyone Griffith won’t ever love her not because he can’t but because it’s against his dream. And for Casca to be free and have some perspective, she needs to go out on her own. Despite maybe never seeing her again. I think the reason Judeau doesn’t demand Casca go with him is because Judeau himself can’t live without her. It’s selfish, but he wants to keep her captive like Griffith since she’ll never know how much he loves her, but that’s something he’ll never tell her. What’s fascinating is Griffith could be stuck in the same dilemma, it’s just not something he makes a focal point of his life.

We then see each Band of the Haw member take in the information Guts will be gone for good, and it’s sad but expected. What’s not expected is the sword Griffith gets out telling Guts to essentially fight for his freedom. It makes you reconsider what the Hawk meant to him, was it always owning others to achieve his ends, or something else. In all likelihood, it could be simplified to the most basic instinct, pure childishness. Similar to when someone asked to borrow a toy of yours, you feel a protectiveness. As if you didn’t care until someone else did. Griffith, like Casca and Guts, can be reduced to this and it becomes clear. He acts on bear impulsive and lacks self-restraint. When he is shielded, he bears away that fact. And as Griffith is the one who hasn’t changed on this journey, like someone who is appraised over and over and never faces critique, he breaks beneath the weight. Griffith lost. And while Guts sees this as a small somber victory, Griffith has lost it all. And Casca calling out to Guts probably sealed it, showing to Griffith he didn’t make her follow him well enough. As Casca really is free in her soul, something Griffith at first unintentionally then likely intentionally tried to hinder. Guts believes Griffith will get back up because he never took the chance to question Griffith, to ever be his true friend. Like Casca, he viewed him all-too perfectly.